Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum) 6945

$1.99
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$9.95

This rare Carolinian plant produces nodding clusters of white to lavender-pink blooms in July to August. Prefers average to rich soil growing to a mature height of 25-45 cm (10-18") tall. Like all members of the alliums, deer do not browse this plant. Plantings spread by self seeding and by bulb offsets. Nodding onion grows best in sunny to mostly sunny sites with moist organic soil. This stunning looking perennial is hardy in Zones 3-8. Please note that all parts of this plant are toxic.

270 seeds/gram. An easy to grow perennial that can be started early indoors in a soil-less mix March 1st. Sow seed then moisten the growing medium and place the container in a refrigerator for 45-60 days before bringing the container back into the warmth. Keep at 20 C (70 F) for the 10-15 day germination period. After that grow on under lights at the same temperature before hardening off and transplanting outside to a sunny site with moist rich soil. Seed can also be directly garden sown in early May or better still in late fall from mid October through mid November. Late season sowing is beneficial as this allows dormant seed to be naturally stratified over the winter.

Many native plants produce seed that is viable but dormant. This means that while the seed has all the internal structures and nutrients required to germinate, the seed coat is so hard, water cannot pass through it and initiate germination. When seed is in this state, it is known as being dormant. Seed dormancy is a naturally selected for trait that protects the seed of many plants allowing them to safely overwinter and then be ready to sprout in more favourable conditions in spring.The remedy to naturally breaking seed dormancy is typically the passing of time. In particular, seed overwintering outside and experiencing the natural freeze thaw cycles that occur in late fall, winter and early spring. To artificially break seed dormancy, sow the seed in a soil-less mix, water than chill in a refrigerator for a set period of time. This dormancy breaking process is called stratification.